THE UNITED NATIONS - Security forces in Sudan fired on pro-democracy protesters in the capital Khartoum on Monday, leaving a number of dead and many more injured, prompting the United Nations chief's condemnation and an appeal for "peaceful dialogue" to resume.

Secretary-General António Guterres "strongly condemns the violence" and "the use of force to disperse the protestors at the sit-in site", said a statement issued by his Spokesperson, adding he was also alarmed at reports that "security forces have opened fire inside medical facilities".

Mr. Guterres reminded the Transitional Military Council of its responsibility for "the safety and security of the citizens of Sudan", and urged all parties to "act with utmost restraint", including their responsibility to uphold "the human rights of all citizens, including the right to freedom of assembly and of expression"

He also called for "unimpeded access to deliver essential care" at the sit-in site outside army headquarters in the capital Khartoum, and in hospitals "where the wounded are treated" and urged the Sudanese authorities to "facilitate an independent investigation into the deaths and to hold those responsible accountable".

"The Secretary-General urges the parties to pursue peaceful dialogue and to stay the course in the negotiations over the transfer of power to a civilian-led transitional authority, as required by the African Union (AU)", the statement continued.

It concluded with the UN chief's commitment to working with the AU in support of the process, saying that the UN "stands ready to support the Sudanese stakeholders in their efforts to build lasting peace".

For her part, High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called the peaceful demonstrations in Sudan "an inspiration" as the protesters worked "to engage with the Transitional Military Council".

"I utterly deplore the apparent use of excessive force in the protest camps" she said.

Ms. Bachelet noted that reports stating that live ammunition was used by security forces next to, and even inside, medical facilities are "extremely alarming".

"I urge the security forces to immediately halt such attacks, and to ensure safe, unimpeded access to medical care for all", she asserted.

Ms. Bachelet stressed that "those exercising their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression must be protected, not targeted or detained", calling it "a fundamental tenet of international human rights law".

"The use of excessive force must be promptly and independently investigated and those responsible brought to justice" she spelled out, adding that the human rights violations that have marked Sudan's history, and sparked the sustained protests over the past six months, "must not be allowed to continue".

"This is a real setback", she concluded.

When the three-decade autocratic rule of President Omar al-Bashir ended in a military takeover in April, hope sprung anew in the African nation. However, as talks faltered between the ruling Transitional Military Council and protesters' leaders over the timetable for civilian rule, violence ensued.

The impasse over Sudan's political future deepened Tuesday as pro-democracy activists rejected a plan by military leaders to hold elections within nine months.

Tension in the streets of the capital, Khartoum, remained high a day after security forces stormed the activists' main protest site outside the Defense Ministry in central Khartoum, breaking up an eight-week-old sit-in and killing at least 35 people.

Journalist Mangu Ugale in Sudan said the pro-military Rapid Support Forces militia – which carried out Monday's attack – is now guarding government installations and keeping civilians away from the buildings. Normal life in the capital is paralyzed, he said.

"So on the street you could see a lot of gathering. Young people especially are gathering on the junctions and on the main streets … just to try to monitor the situation, how it goes," Ugale told VOA's South Sudan in Focus.

A spokesman for United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the U.N. is watching the situation "with great and increasing concern."

"We again remind the Transitional Military Council of its duty to ensure the security and safety of citizens in Sudan and urge all parties to act with utmost restraint," Stephane Dujarric told reporters Tuesday. "It's very important excessive force not be used."

The U.N. Security Council is due to discuss the situation in Sudan Tuesday during a closed-door session at the request of Britain and Germany.

Next steps uncertain

Monday's raid capped a breakdown of relations between the military and the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), an alliance of protesters and opposition parties.

In a televised address Tuesday, the head of the ruling Transitional Military Council said the council was canceling its previous agreement to form an interim government with the FFC.

General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said a new government will immediately be formed and will rule until elections are held within the next nine months.

A spokesman for the Sudanese Professional Association – the leader of Sudan's recent pro-democracy protests – quickly rejected that plan.

"We have no choice but to continue our protests and civil disobedience until the fall of the military council," Mohammed Yousef al-Musfafa told the Associated Press.

Protest groups and opposition parties have been demanding that the Transitional Military Council, which took power after the army overthrew longtime-president Omar al-Bashir on April 11, hand power to a civilian-led authority.

Talks on the proposed interim government broke down over which side would have ultimate decision-making authority.

Monday 'massacre'

The Sudanese Professionals Association accused security forces of carrying out a "massacre" outside the Defense Ministry on Monday.

With batons in hand, Sudanese forces in police and military uniforms surrounded the protesters and began forcing them to leave. Explosions and heavy machine gunfire were heard, and video on several media outlets showed Sudanese forces beating protesters lying face down on the ground.

Protesters say the Rapid Support Forces and paramilitary units also surrounded two Khartoum hospitals.

Witnesses say by mid-afternoon on Monday, the protest site had been cleared.

The top U.S. diplomat to Africa, Tibor Nagy, condemned what he called the brutal and coordinated attack and said any future government in Sudan must include the main opposition coalition.

Transitional Military Council spokesman Shams El din al-Kabashi said the forces only targeted what he called "dangerous groups" that infiltrated the protesters in the sit-in area.

General Burhan said the military will investigate Monday's violence, but he blamed protest leaders for prolonging the crisis by refusing to come to an agreement on an interim government.

Sudan developments, at a glance

19 December 2018 – Protests erupt after the announcement of rising prices.
22 February 2019 – President Bashir dissolves the government.
24 February – Security forces fire live ammunition at protesters.
6 April – Protesters at a sit-in outside military headquarters, vow not to move until former President Bashir steps down.
11 April – Army generals announce that the president had been toppled, but protesters continue to demand civilian rule.
20 April – Talks begin between military rulers and civilian leaders.
13 May – Shooting outside military headquarters leaves six people dead.
14 May – An agreed three-year transition period from military to civilian rule is announced.
16 May - Talks postponed as the military demands that some barricades are removed.
3 June - Activists accuse the military of using force against their sit-in protests, announcing the suspension of talks.